Oasis Path©(English Version)BOOK 1 OASIS SAGA

Part 4.

Lawrence, December 8th.

In recent days, I have been engulfed in a whirlwind of overwhelming tasks. A mix of study topics has invaded my time, leaving me with scarce opportunities to address them. Concentration has become an elusive companion, and staying awake has become a challenging task. My nights are haunted by nightmares, a reminiscent echo of my childhood, and also by dreams, narratives that I hesitate to share, even in the most intimate pages of a journal.

However, in yesterday’s events, monotony gave way to the unexpectedly wonderful. After the last morning period, we were informed that we would enjoy the rest of the afternoon free from academic duties. Furthermore, the night held the official dance in commemoration of the new school year.

Rarely in my existence have I been granted the opportunity to participate in festivities, and when I did, they were tedious gatherings filled with noticeably older individuals, with little youthful presence for engaging conversations. This seemed to be the first celebration I would attend alone, without the comforting company of my mother and, moreover, filled with people of my own age.

As was my custom, I hastily left the classroom, observing how everyone around me couldn’t stop talking excitedly about the upcoming dance. Enthusiasm took over every corner, and each student embarked on the search for their dance partner. Lisa, in a thoughtful act, had extended her invitation to her cousin Xavier Fault, a young man who bears a striking physical resemblance to her: tall, with green eyes, and hair that delicately brushed his shoulders. Lisa shared with me that Xavier, in his senior year, already has wedding plans for next spring.

Amidst my expectations, I received a surprising invitation from Christopher Hawak, one of my classmates. Chris, as I affectionately called him, is a simple and somewhat shy young man, but endowed with acute intelligence. Among the few boys I usually engage in conversation with, he stands out.

“Amelie, please!” Chris exclaimed in a slightly desperate tone. “Accept to go to the dance with me! I’m nervous and don’t see myself capable of asking anyone else.”

Yes, Christopher was clearly anxious and completely nervous.

“Of course, Chris!” I responded, trying to boost his spirits. “I’m very glad you thought of me. You’re a good companion.”
I achieved my goal, noticing how his expression shifted from desperation to a relieved and more confident smile. However, a pleasant surprise awaited me as I entered my room: several classmates were there, along with Lisa.

“Amelie, I hope you don’t mind,” said Lisa, getting up. “We thought of getting ready together and sharing ideas to look our best. What do you think?”

“How could I possibly mind?” I asked, still surprised. “I think it’s great. In fact, I’m going to need a lot of help from you girls; I have no idea how to get ready for these kinds of parties.”

“Do you mind us sitting on your bed?” asked Bridget McLost, pointing to Lilian Egan, both from the dormitory across.

“Of course not, girls!” I affirmed, also looking at Daphne and Ann Whitman, the sisters from the room on the right. All of us, besides having our dorms close, are classmates.

Together, they started giving me quick lessons in makeup, hairstyles, and dresses. It was overwhelming to absorb so much in such a short time, but I managed to learn something. The night was approaching; I had already immersed myself in a relaxing bath, and Lilian, a makeup expert, began to add color to my face. Then, Ann took charge of taming my rebellious hair, which, on this occasion, was benevolent and resulted in a beautiful updo.

The time to go out was approaching, and I hadn’t chosen my dress yet. We were informed that Lisa’s, Daphne’s, and Bridget’s companions were waiting for us at the foot of the stairs, and the other guys wouldn’t be far behind. Finally, I opted for a white dress with delicate black lace details on the part that exposed my shoulders, the waist, and the bottom, almost grazing the floor.

I chose simple silver earrings and a necklace with small black stones to complement my outfit. This dress, the second time I wore it, was a gift on my last birthday. To complete my choice, I opted for comfortable white shoes that provided a slight height thanks to their discreet heel.

I had barely looked at myself in the mirror, but when I finally did, I felt immensely pleased with the image it reflected. Just in time, Lisa informed me that it was time to go out, and all our classmates were waiting for us.

Nervous about entering such a large hall, of which I didn’t even know existed in the school, I clung tightly to Chris’s arm. To my surprise, he appeared calm and self-assured.

“Hey, Amelie!” Chris whispered. “Don’t be nervous. You look very beautiful. Everything will be fine.”

His words managed to calm my anxiety a bit, and we prepared to enter the immense hall filled with lights, laughter, music, and joy. Chris told me he was going to get something to drink, and feeling more confident, I decided to go and greet Mr. Smith and thank him for the opportunity to attend such a party.

“Good evening, Mr. Smith,” I began greeting him as soon as I saw him alone. “My name is Amelie Johnson, and I wanted to thank you for this beautiful party. I’ve never attended something like this...”

“Amelie!” Miss Jane Hudson cheerfully interrupted, turning to Mr. Smith. “Amelie is a very dedicated student. She’s from Oldtown, just like you.”

“Are you really from Oldtown?” Mr. Smith asked, surprised.

“Yes, sir,” I replied.

“It’s been over 40 years since I’ve been there,” he confessed. “I left the town when I was 25, and since then, I’ve been working here in Lawrence and in other provinces, but I’ve never returned to Oldtown.”

“If you have time, I can show you several photos,” I suggested. “I brought many. You know, to not miss it so much.”

“Thank you, Amelie, you’re very kind!” Mr. Smith said, while Miss Hudson nodded in agreement. “Could you come by my office tomorrow? I would love to see those photos.”

“It will be a pleasure for me, sir,” I replied enthusiastically.

At that moment, Mr. Smith turned his gaze to the dance floor to see everyone getting ready to dance. Turning back to me, he asked with some concern:

“Shouldn’t a lovely young lady like you be dancing with a partner instead of talking with her teachers?”

I lowered my gaze, feeling a bit embarrassed and blushing. Fortunately, Mr. Smith noticed how uncomfortable the moment was for me.

“Do you know? I often dance a lot with my granddaughter,” Mr. Smith confessed, to my surprise. “You resemble her a lot. Would you grant me this dance, young lady?”

“Definitely!” I accepted, relieved and happy.